CATHOLIC DOCTRINE,PRECEPTS VS CHRISTIANITY IN THE MODERN DAY CHURCH
73HEAVEN WAITS FOR ME NO MATTER WHAT
MY CHRISTIANITY AND WHAT I PERSONALLY HOLD AS BIBLE BASED TRUTH
First and foremost, I am a Christian. BUT, I am raised in and lived my life in the Roman Catholic Church. It is where I feel comfortable.
After reading this Hub, I'm almost certain some of my readers will ask me, If you disagree with the teachings and regulations, the precepts of the church, why don't you leave and seek another?
For me the answer is simple yet complicated.
1. My love for my God, and His love for me, does not dictate, that I have to belong in nor believe in, any particular denomination of Church. God is God. God is Love God loves (ME) no matter what no matter where.
2. I love to sing, and I especially love to sing for God. I learned how to sing in Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, Hebrew, French, and yes, even English. From what I know, the Catholic church is the only church that teaches and allows so many different languages and such a wide expanse of music.
3. My wife of 24 years is a devout Catholic, so in order to maintain a peaceful and loving marriage, it pleases her. Not that that would matter, for the music is my driving reason.
4. I love the people I have been in association with over the 47 years, people who share my passion for the music we sing, and they don't care my motif, as long as I sing well.
I love My God My heavenly Father, with a passion, and I daily seek to serve Him and only Him with All that I am. I love my Lord Jesus, I am reborn in Him. Through His Crucifixion and His Resurrection I have been cleansed of the sins of my life, and repent over them. I Am Saved.
I am purified and justified through the application of the precious blood of Jesus applied to me. Jesus is My Best friend and My Brother, My Confessor. I love The Holy Spirit of God, as my brother, my teacher, my guide and councillor.
I fully accept and believe that the Holy Bible is "God's Words" spoken by God's Holy Spirit, and recorded by man for all prosperity. God's Word, cannot and does not contradict it's self and is always always in agreeance with the Will of God and who God is, and the knowledge God wished and inspired man to know.
This is hard for me, as I am not a Pastor, nor a Priest, nor a Minister of any kind. I have never ever studied Theology nor have I ever taken any formal religious training at a Seminary or at a University.
I am simply self-taught. I have read the Holy Bible cover to cover twice, and turn to it constantly as my source for religious knowledge, as I seek to learn about and understand My God, My Heavenly Father, My Brother Jesus, and My Brother The Holy Spirit, and to learn what They expect of me, as well as what They ask of me, throughout my life.
This is me the Christian, blunt, straight-forward, tell it like it is, Dave.
ME AS A CATHOLIC
I was born into the Catholic faith, and went through infant Baptism. This is one of the Catholic Church Doctorines or policies,or precepts, I am in total disagreement with. In the way I look at it, I feel that an individual should have the right to choose to accept and believe, not have someone else speak for them. One might look upon this as an infant's spiritual cleansing of "The Sin of Adam" but it can be nothing more.
See MATTHEW:28: 19-20 Even though Jesus instructed His Apostles to "Spread the Gospels to the whole world and "Baptize" The Catholic Church seems to think that only it's priests have the right to baptize, unless it is an extremely life-threatening situation where death is emminent.
As far as I know and maybe I am wrong, I believe every Christian should have the right to baptize another as Jesus instructed.
Apparently, the Catholic Church must in some small way, think this infant baptism is not all together right too, for at the age of 13, through the "Sacrament" of Confirmation, we are given the opportunity to re-affirm our baptismal vows, before a Bishop and are Reborn.
This is where and when my walk with Almighty God first truly began, as far as I'm Concerned, because it was at this time, I first discovered my love for music, and when I first sat down with a Bible and began to read it cover to cover. This is where and when my eyes became truly opened to God, His Word, and how He wished me to lead my life.
As far as a difference in "Main" teaching texts is concerned The Holy Bible is in both cases the "Ultimate text " and basis for teaching.
The main Theological teaching or difference and this is the one I find most objectionalbe, is the arrogance of the Catholic Church in its belief that in order to confess one's sins and be granted forgiveness, one has to go to confession, which in the case of the Church means telling a priest in confidence of all of your sins. He then issues a penance usually prayers, unless the sin requires some repentant payback of some nature and then supposedly the Priest then transfers your sins to Jesus you are absolved of your sins.
Although I definitely believe in confessing of my sins and repentance of my sins, I believe that this is between Jesus and Myself, as Jesus is the only one who can cleanse me.
Now here's a Catholic Church Precept that really and truly irks me.
My wife and I were married almost 24 years ago in Hong Kong where she was living and working at the time. Before the ceremony, before some governmental official, we knelt and prayed together, inviting Almighty God to attend as our heavenly witness, and bless our union. I don't know, maybe God lost the invitation or couldn't find us, BUT according to the Catholic Church we are not married in the eyes of the church or in the eyes of God.
Not only that, the church forbids us our right as Catholics to receive Holy Communion at church, saying that we are living in sin since we were not married in the church. My poor darling wife being a "Devout Catholic" buys into this and will not go to the Altar. I on the other hand refuse their ruling and go and receive communion. I'll let God Himself decide this one. I really feel sorry for my poor wife, because I know how important receiving communion is to either a Catholic or a Christian, but it's her choice, not to do so.
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Ate' you know that my dear wife is Filippina. I wish she would recognize though that is God not man who blesses a marriage,it pains me deeply to witness her every Sunday abstaining like some martyr, from receiving her God given right to receive communion.
KUYA Dave.
alright! good hub my prolific writer. im am so agree with you. keep it up
Brother Dave, what a beautifully balanced hub...there is much to be said for the reverence and beauty of the Catholic, or Anglican or Lutheran Church but our faith does indeed need and must be in Jesus NOT the Church. I say Amen to you. I want to encourage you brother, you said, "I have never ever studied Theology" yet in the very next paragraph you have also said... "I am simply self-taught. I have read the Holy Bible cover to cover twice, and turn to it constantly as my source for religious knowledge, as I seek to learn about and understand My God, My Heavenly Father, My Brother Jesus, and My Brother The Holy Spirit, and to learn what They expect of me, as well as what They ask of me, throughout my life."
Dave, one thing I learned in Bible College which encouraged me...(as a 50 yr old going to school with 20 yr olds) and kept my head on my shoulders...was the meaning of theology...Theo = God... ology = a study of
therefore dear brother theology means a study of God...so you are a theologian as we all are who study the Word, God's text book for learning who He is and who we are in Him, and what He requires us.
Thank for the Hub...be blessed
UlrikeGrace
Ulrike Grace my precious sister, well I guess I will have to retract that statement here and now I am a Theo=God ology=study of, Student of God. I guess I said that because I have not attended any formal places of Higher learning like a university or a Seminary, but then again, as I stop to think about even that now, what better Professor than Jesus, and what better text to learn from than God's Holy Bible. I guess there are still things this 62 yr.old man can learn, and I'm thankful for a loving sister like you to open my mind as well as my eyes, to my silly thinking.
Thank you dear sister.
Brother Dave.
Oh Brother Dave, you are precious to the body of Christ...may God continue to bless you with His teaching and instruction along the way of your journey and may He always give you the words to share with others. Your heart is precious. Blessings to you.
UlrikeGrace
I really admire how you guys embrace and love God with such good words. I'm a follower. A good follower is a good leader.
yes kuya, it must be painful to you, but then thats her convition as well, Bless again, Maita
UlrikeGrace,God bless you my sister, for adjusting my way of thinking. I guess you can teach an old dog new tricks after all.
Brother Dave
Thank you so much Quill my brother, and remember too, a good leader, knows when to follow. Loving God is the easy part.
Brother Dave.
Just so people know, I take no joy out of discussing my opposition to the various ways of the Catholic Church. I feel though, that I have a right to voice my opinion, and others have a right to know what it is like to be a Catholic.
Very nice, I'm pleased :) Please read my hubs:)
The Church states that you are "living in sin." Fine. This is just a technicality. But you wish to do the right thing, ie., get married eventually in the Catholic Church. Fine. God understands this. True sincerity is always heard by God.
I have been instructed several times by priests that I trust to receive the Eucharist, even if in a state of mortal sin. One should not strive to do this ordinarily, of course. One should try to reach confession. But it is not always possible to get to confession. And in your situation, it is not possible to be in state of grace immediately, anyway, because of your marriage circumstances.
My advice: continue receiving Communion as you are. It is good to be closer to the Grace of God, rather than far away. God understands your sincerity. Your situation can only be helped by further Grace.
I once avoided Communion for an entire year. Not because I wanted to disobey the Church. I simply wanted to get Confession before Mass. And I was never able to do it. For an entire year. The priests were always busy. The priests were always out. Whatever. It was always something different. And during that year all my internal fire and creativity dried up. All my deep love of life gradually disappeared. Not receiving the Eucharist destroyed something powerful and happy inside me that I never knew was there in the first place (I have gone to Church all my life.)
Several Catholics I knew and trusted eventually urged me to receive the Eucharist anyway, and trust in God that I would eventually get Confession. My internal joy was powerfully returned to me the instant I received the Eucharist. And that day, for the first time in a whole year, a priest was free for Confession.
Unless a priest places a specific injunction upon you, preventing you from receiving Communion, I would continue to go, and trust in God for His Grace. Your marriage situation will improve if you want it to. There must be steps to take. It will probably be very gradual. Just be patient. God is. Never for one moment doubt that He is listening. He doesn't want you to suffer. But it's happening anyway. And He wants to help.
Eric Jones: Thank you so very much for this advice. God must be the only one that we must please as we have to answer to His Son Jesus for all of our wrongdoings. Only God can sort out what is truly right and wrong, and Jesus will judge us for the wrong.
MR. MATHEWS, I REALLY WANT TO THANK U VERY MUCH FOR BEING SO OPEN TO WHAT AND WHO U TRULY BELIEVE IN. MY NAME IS TANYA. I AM WRITING A BOOK BASED ON FORGIVENESS AND THE CHOICES WE MAKE IN LIFE. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS DIRECTING ME TO WRITE THIS BOOK. ANYWAY, IM DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE CATHOLIC RELIGION VERSES THE CHRISTIAN RELIGION AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN WHAT I NEEDED. UR HUB WAS A NICE HUMAN CANDID LOOK INTO UR CHRISTIAN WALK AND ALL THAT INTELS. THANKS 4 STARTING MY RESEARCH OFF IN A POSITIVE MANNER.IM LOOKING 4 MORE INFO ON IF PRIESTS OR ANYONE IN THE CATHOLIC OFFICES CAN MARRY. AND AT WHAT LEVEL IS IT OK TO BE HOLD CATHOLIC OFFICE AND B MARRIED. THANKS ALOT.
It was deemed improper for priests to marry, only because it would interfere with their family life or their priestly responsibilities.
What is so hard about having your marriage blessed and recognized in the Catholic Church? You won't do this for your wife? Jesus Instituted the Sacraments read the Bible. He was at the wedding at Cana with his mother - it must have been established as important in his practice of faith and life - or why bother to be there, why bother to answer his mother's petition when she sent the people bearing water to turn it into wine for the guests? Why did he send his Disciples out to Baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit? WHy breathe on them the power of the Holy Spirit and command them to go out and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy SPirit? Why grant them power to minister and "heal" "Whatever you hold bound on earth shall be held bound in heaven, whatever you losed (forgive) on earth shall be losed (forgiven) in heaven...Where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of them. You sound a little isolated in your willingness to "Come follow me" as Jesus told his disciples. YOu seem to put alot of stipulations on your relationship with God, Jesus, His Church...personally, I do not remember anything in scripture stating the disciples had wives that they brought with them on their journey with Jesus. The Catholic priesthood is understood as a life of abstinence, just as those who take vows of chastity, poverty, service, etc in religious orders (i.e., sisters (nuns), brothers, etc. I think those who understand this discipline, feel called to it, have no problem with it as much as those who don't have the discipline or the calling. They don't draw people in unsuspectingly into the lifestyle. They, and the world are fully aware of the calling and the responsibility and cross or expectations that come with it. Bless them for saying "Yes". It is remarkable that you don't see the power in the story of the Prodigal SOn. The son did not just remain in the pig trough apologizing to God and making amends with himself. It took an action on his part. To seek out his father, to admit his sin, to seek penance...this is the same action we approach in going to the priest. The problem some faithful have is false pride, being too ashamed - too big to admit they (we)have flaws, we need help. The power of Confession and reconciliation with a Priest, Bishop, is the HOly Spirit is working through them in a non-judgemental way, helping to see beyond the "symptoms" of sin and identify the "source". If you sever your hand - do you try to stitch it up yourself - or do you seek out appropriate help or ignore the "bleed" and let it continue while ignoring it? If you continue to fall into the same pattern would you not seek help in identifying what is causing the outcome of injury? Priests do this for us and under the Seal of the Confessional cannot tell anyone, any court the sin without the penalty of being excommunicated from the Priesthood. Confession and Reconciliation is a Sacrament of Love of the Father through the Son working within the Priest by the power of the Holy SPirit. It takes faith and trust and a reality that you may not be ready for yet.
Growing: There is nothing difficult about the ceremony of re-affirmation of my vows. The difficulty lies in two different areas. First, We invited God into our civil ceremony as witness to our vows and as a member in our marriage, thus fulfilling Jesus statement to the pharisees to render unto Caesar,AND, unto God.
Second the fact that the Roman Catholic Church openly dis-avows our civil ceremony and forbids us the right to receive the sacraments ordained by God, specifically Communion. This act by the church is blasphemy and hypocracy.
prettydarkhorse Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago
inspiring again, and I know what your wife is feeling and I agree with her hehe, Bless, Maita